A new $35.4 million bridge will double the lanes in and out of the Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor, doubling the amount of ocean cargo it can handle.
The Port of Indiana Burns-Harbor celebrated a groundbreaking Monday for a new highway bridge along State Road 249 into the deepwater port on Lake Michigan. It opens to the public Wednesday, marking the midway point of a multiyear project that will allow the port to move more cargo, handle larger cargo and potentially move more container traffic.
“This bridge is a critical connector for global trade,” said Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock. “Ports require robust multimodal connections, and this new entrance will double our port’s capacity to handle critical ocean shipments. We have 17 ship berths and storage for 250 railcars, but only one truck lane entering the port. We are extremely grateful to Governor Holcomb, Commissioner Smith, and the entire INDOT team for providing a critical piece of infrastructure that will support future growth for this port and our state economy.”
The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor has only had a single two-lane bridge going in and out since it first opened in Porter County in 1970, connecting Northwest Indiana to global markets via maritime trade. It for instance allows Indiana farmers to ship their grains to foreign markets and brings in products like steel, salt, iron ore, limestone, beer tanks and windmill turbines.
At times, the bridge hasn't been large enough to handle special cargoes, such as a shipment for a GE power plant that had to be rerouted through a neighboring steel mill, Peacock said.
Six ships brought around 600 different power plant components, including 100-foot-long pieces that could not be transported over the bridge.
“State Road 249 is vital to the safe and expedited movement of people and commerce between the port and our state highway system,” INDOT Commissioner Michael Smith said. “The bridge handles hundreds of thousands of trucks annually carrying heavy, high-value cargos such as steel, chemicals, ag products. Meanwhile, 30 feet below, critical rail lines carry passengers and freight throughout northern Indiana. INDOT is proud to play a central role in the port's growth and to support Indiana’s global connections.”
The Indiana Department of Transportation and Superior Construction will close the existing bridge after opening the new 1,200-foot bridge Wednesday. The current bridge – which was constructed in 2000 – will be rebuilt so that four lanes of traffic will come in and out of the port.
"INDOT will dismantle most of the old bridge and put a new bridge in its place," Port of Indiana spokesman Eric Powell said. "It should be done by early 2026."
The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor is pursuing $77 million in infrastructure projects, including three ship berths, two railyards and a new bulk warehouse. It plans to open a new ocean container terminal in 2026, to get a share of the container traffic that dominates global trade but that has historically been more likely to go to ocean ports instead of Great Lakes ports.
“Our goal is to provide Indiana with a modern port system that connects local businesses to the world, and our customers depend on reliable supply chains and well-maintained infrastructure,” said Ryan McCoy, port director for Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor. “This bridge will allow us to better serve heavy-lift cargoes that were previously diverted to other routes and prepares this port for future container shipments starting in 2026. This project will also positively impact the environment by reducing congestion and idling time for vehicles, further lowering the port’s carbon footprint.”
The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor now has the capacity to load 250 railcars and 17 berths for international ships known as salties that come from the Atlantic Ocean and pass through the St. Lawrence Seaway into the Great Lakes. A bridge twice as big will let it handle more cargo via truck traffic, Peacock said.
"It doubles the size for international cargoes," he said. "We can expand our inbound and outbound cargos. It will increase our economic impact."
© Copyright 2024, nwitimes.com, Munster, IN